Baffle wall structure for sheet drying or baking ovens



Nov. 14, 1944- J.H. oNEn. 2,362,847

BAFFLE WALL S'I'RUC'IURE FOR SHEET DRYING OR BAKING OVENS Filed Aug. 24, v1942 a JJ d 3 Jaw? Patented Nov. 14, 1944 BAFFLE WALL STRUCTURE FOR SHEET n PATENT g oFFlcE DRYING OR BAKING `OVEN S JamesH. ONeil, Syracuse, N. Y., assigner to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., k a'corpcrationof New York .Application August 24, 1942seria1No. 455,963

.'12 Claims.

The invention relates generally to ovenstructures and more particularlyA to voven structures wherein provision is made for baking or drying `lacquer, or enamel'protective or decorative coatings on the metal sheets from which can bodies are'formed, and it primarily seeks to provide an oven of the character stated wherein is included a. novel `form and arrangement of balefY wall structure 'effective to assure passage of the treating air through between the sheets, ratherthan in part through and in part about side edge portions thereof without contacting the coated face portions.

' In ovens of the character stated the sheets to be dried or baked are conveyed through the oven chamber on an endless conveyor, travelling vin generally `parallel spaced relation supported by bail-like members carried by the conveyor. Such ovens have chambers therein of uniform, xed' dimensions and at least as wideor somewhat wider than the widest sheets intended to be conveyed. In these ovens the treating air usually is introducedginthe bottom vand drawn away-at the top, and considerable difliculty has ybeenv ex- .perienced in obtaining desired uniformity inresults by reasonof the fact that freek space is pro-- f vided along the oven chamber at each side of l which there is included baille-walls of thechary acter stated, 'and novel means for adjustably mounting the walls so that' they can be'made to cooperateproperly with sheetsl of varied widths.

Another object of the invention isk to` providenovel adjustable. bottomv space "closing velements movable'with the baffle walls and eifectiveto 'pref vent'treatingair passing up'outside of the balewalls.

, Another object of the. invention is to provide bottom space closing elements of the character statedwhich are hingedly connected with the adjustably mounted wallsand with thenoven structure namanner for automatically causing themfto assume the proper cooperative relation (Cl. 34a-150) ,f y i to the'walls'fas movement of adjustment is im- Dartedlto'the latter..y y With the above andother objects inview that will hereinafter appear,` the nature of the inven- 5 tion vwill be more fully understood by following the detailed description, the appended claims and I theseveral Views. illustrated in the accompanying drawing.. l n v Figure'lis a vertical'cross sectional view illustrating anoven structure embodying the inven-l tion, anadjusted position of the bale Walls being shown in dotted lines;

. Figure 2,is a fragmentary horizontal section taken onthe.1ine'2;2 onFigure 1. V

-In this disclosure vthe invention is illustrated as embodiedV in a more or less conventional form of oven structure and i1; is to be understood that the inventive vfeatures maybe embodied in ovens of-.Various designs and shapes. The herein disclosed 'form of oven includes the usual bottom 5, top 6 and side or ilanking walls 1, dening a longitudinalchamber through which sheets are con-i veyed for air treatment while being. disposed in generally parallel spaced' relation transversely of the chamber. f f f Alongitudinal duct 8 is suitably supported at the bottom of thecharr-ber and is provided along its upper surface withapertures-Q through which v the treating air is directed upwardlyto be received through downwardly directed .apertures Ill intoa take-away duct 'l ly sutablysupported in theupper portion of the chamber in the manner clearly illustrated in'F-igure 1.

The invention is designed particularly for drying or baking lacquer, enamelor other protective or.r decorative coatingsbnlarge metallic sheets intendedtobe iorrnedinto canbodies. In such uses'y hotiar is directed through the treating 4,0, chamber for-properr treating contact with the coated .surfacesof thetravelling sheets, but it is f to Vbe understood thattheinvention may be embodied in fovens intended for other .types of air treatment of sheets.:

451 The oven structure herein. illustrated yincludes the usual .cross supports i2 whereon longitudinal rails I3 .are supported, 4and these rails serve to support the eiective iiight I4 of an endless conveyor which "may be of .any :conventional form including the usualbail-like supports I5 for holding Ythe travelling'4 sheets in ygenerally parallel spacedrelation.` ,y ,y

lin ,thev practical development of the invention there are provided side baille wall units I1 'disg posedzin.. spaced -relaton to the sidewalls of the oven structure and in parallel relation to the lateral edge portions of the travelling sheets. Each baille wall structure l1 is supported on a plurality of supporting and placing rods I8 which are secured as at I9 to the wall structures l'l and extend outwardly through the side walls l, being equipped at their outer extremities with handle portions 20. The extended ends of the rods IB are slidable in bearings 2| secured as at 22 to the oven structure. It will be obvious that'by manipulation of the rods I8 the spaced relation ci the baille wall structures Il can be varied at Will.

Stop members 23 are mounted on the cross supports l2 and serve to limit the inward movement of the baille Wall structures and thereby assure against interference of these structures withv the drawing that the baille wall structures and the bottom bailles or side space closing means are` arranged in independently movable, longitudinally aligned sets, the baille wall sets being arranged in close end to end relation as at 28, and the bottom baille sets being arranged in similar close end alignment as at 29.

It will be obvious that by positioning the baille wall structures il so that they will closely approximate the lateral edge portions of the travelling sheets, the bottom baffles 24 serving to prevent passage of air upwardly between said wall structures and the adjacent walls 1 of the oven, the treating air will becompelled to pass upwardly, through between the travelling sheets and will not be permitted to short circuit the travelling sheets and pass upwardly about side edge portions thereof.

The particular construction and arrangement of the bottom baffles 24 permit them to` partake of movement of adjustment of the side baille Wall structures Il and assure the desired distribution of the treating air regardless of the adjustment of said wall structures.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and the arrangement of parts` may be variously changed and modified Withouty departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an oven structure of the character described wherein are provided means including chamber flanking walls dening a longitudinal chamber, means for conveying sheets through the chamber and holding them disposedY uprightly and transversely of the chamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means for directing treating air across the path of travel of the sheets, baille wall structures coextensive at least in depth with the depth of the uprightly travelling sheets and supported uprightly in the chamber in close` 2. In an oven structure of the character described wherein are provided means including chamber flanking walls defining a longitudinal chamber, means for conveying sheets through the chamber and holding them disposed uprightly and transversely of the chamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means for directing treating air across the path of travel of the sheets, baille wall structures coextensive at least in depth with the depth of the uprightly travelling sheets and supported uprightly in the chamber in close proximity beside edge portions of the travelling sheets and in parallel spaced relation vto adjacent chamber flanking walls of said oven structure, and means closing the spaces intervening said baille wall structures and said adjacent walls to prevent free passage of air through said spaces.

3. In an oven structure of the character described wherein are provided means including chamber anking walls dening a longitudinal chamber, means for conveying sheets through the chamber and holding them disposed uprightly and transversely of the chamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means for directing treating air across the path of travel of the sheets, baille Wall structures coextensive at least in depth with the depth of the uprightly travelling sheets and supported uprightly in the chamber in close proximity beside edge portions of the travelling sheets and in parallel spaced relation to adjacent chamber flanking Walls of said oven structure, means closing the spaces intervening said baille wall structures andsaid adjacent walls to prevent free passage of air through said spaces, andv means adjustably. mounting` said baffle wall structures and said space closing means to adapt them for cooperative relation with travelling sheets of diierent sizes.

4, In an oven structure of the character described wherein are provided means including chamber flanking Wallsdening a longitudinal chamber, means for conveying sheets through the chamber and holding them disposed uprightly and transversely of the chamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means for directing treating airA across the path oi travel of the sheets, baille Wall structures coextensive atleast in depth with the depth ofthe uprightly travelling sheetsand supported uprightly in the chamber in close proximitybeside edge portions of the travelling sheets and in parallel spaced relation to adjacent chamber flanking Walls of said oven structure, means closing the spaces intervening said baillewall structures and said adjacent walls to prevent free passage of air through said spaces, and means for simultaneously altering the positioning of said baille Wall structures and said space closing means to adapt them for cooperation with travelling sheets of different sizes.

5. In an oven kstructure of, the character described wherein are provided means including chamber anking walls dening a longitudinal chamber, means for conveying sheets through the chamber and holding them disposed uprightly and transversely of the chamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means for directing treating air across the path of 4travel of the sheets,y baffle wall structures coextensive at least in depth'with the depth of the uprightly travelling sheets and supported uprightlyin the chamber in close proximity beside edge portions of the travelling sheets and in parallel spaced relation to adjacent chamvpassage lot air throughsaid spaces, and means adjustably mounting said baille wallstructuresI andr said spacev closing means to adapt themfor, cooperative relationwith travelling sheets of dfferent sizes, said baille Wall structures and said spaceclosing means being arranged in independently movable longitudinally aligned setsl' 6. In an oven structure"r of the character ldescribed Wherein are provided means including chamber flanking walls defining a longitudinal chamber, means for conveying sheets through the chamber and holdingthem `disposed'uprightly and transversely of the chamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means for directing treating air across the path of ytravel of the sheets, baille wall structures coextensive at least in depth With the depth of the uprightly travelling sheets and supported uprightly in the'chamber in close proximity beside edge portions of the travelling sheets and inparallel spacedrelation to adjacent chamber ilanking walls of said oven structure, means ,closingthe spaces intervening said baille. wall structures and said adjacent walls to prevent free passage of air throughlsaid spaces, and means operable from without the oven structure for altering the positions of the baille wall structures and the space closing means to adapt them for cooperation with travelling sheets of diierent sizes.

7. In anp oven structure of the character de'- scribed wherein are provided means including chamber llankingwalls defining `a vrlongitudinal chamber, means for conveying sheets through the chamber and holding them disposed uprightly and transversely of the chamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means for directing treating air across the path of travel of the sheets, baille Wall structures coextensive at least in depth with the depth of the uprightly travelling sheets and supported'uprightly in the chamber in close proximity beside edge portions of the travelling'sheets and in parallel spaced relation to adjacent chamber flanking walls of said oven structure, means closing the spaces intervening said baille wall structures and said adjacent walls to prevent free passage of air through said spaces, and means operable from without the oven structurevfor a1- tering the positions of the baille wall structures hinged together and to the 4respective baille wall structure andnthe adjacent chamber dening Wal1.` .y y

9. In an oven. structurevof the character described wherein. are'fprovided meansincluding chamber flanking walls. defining a longitudinal chamber, means forconveying sheets through the chamberand holding them disposed uprightly and transversely of thechamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means for directing treating air across the path of travel of the sheets, baille wall structures supported in the chamber in close 'proximity to edge portions of thetravelling sheets and in parallelspaced relation to adjacentA chamberrflanking walls of said oven structure, meansl closing the spaces intervening said baille wall structures and said adjacent walls to prevent free passage of air through said spaces', each said space closing means comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending plates hinged together and to the respective balllewall structure and the adjacent chamber dening wall.

10. In an oven structure of the character described wherein are provided means including chamber anking Walls defining a longitudinal chamber, means for conveying sheets through the chamber and holding them disposed uprightly and transversely of the chamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means for directing treating air across the path of travel of the sheets, baille wall structures coextensive at least in depth with the depth of the uprightly travelling sheets and and the space closing means to adapt them for cooperation with travelling sheets of different f sizes, said space closing means being attached to'said baille wall structures and movable therewith.

8. In an oven structure of the character described wherein are provided means including y chamber flanking walls dening a longitudinal chamber, means for conveying sheets through the chamber vand holding them disposed uprightly and transversely of the chamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means for directing treating air across the path of travel of the sheets, baille `wall structures supported in the chamber in close proximity to edge portions of the travelling sheets and in parallel spaced relation to adjacent chamber ilanking Walls of said oven structure, means closing the spaces intervening said baille wall structures and said adjacent walls to prevent free passagerof air through said spaces, and means adjustably mounting said baille wall structures and said space closing means to adapt them for cooperative relation with travelling sheets of different sizes, saidv baille wall structures and said space closing means being arranged in independently movable longitudinally 'aligned sets, and each said space closing means comprissupported uprightly in the chamber in close proximity beside'edge portions of the travelling sheets and in parallel spaced relation to adjacent chamber ilanking walls of said oven structure, means closing the spaces intervening said baille wall structures and saidadjacent walls to prevent v free passage of air through said spaces, and

ymeans operable from without the oven structure i for cooperation with travelling sheets of different sizes, said space closing means being'attached to said baille wall structures and movable therewith, and said position altering means including handle rods attached to the baille wall structures and vextending through and slide guided on oven Wall structures.

11. In an oven`structure of the character described wherein are provided means including chamber flanking walls defining a longitudinal chamber, means for conveying sheets through the chamber and holding them disposed uprightly and transversely of the chamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means for directing treating air across the pathoi travel of the sheets, baille wall structures supported in the chamber in close proximity to edge portions of the travelling sheets and in parallel spaced relation to adjacent chamber ilanking walls of said oven structure, means closing the spaces intervening said baille wall structures and said adjacent Walls to prevent free passage of air through said spaces, means adjustably mounting said baille wall structures and said space closing means to adapt them for cooperative relation with travellingv sheets of different sizes, said baille wall structures and said space closing means being arranged in independently movable longitudinally aligned sets, each said space closing means comprising a plurality ing a plurality of longitudinally extending plates of longitudinally extending plates hinged together and to the respectiveibaille Wall structure and the adjacent chamber dening wall, and means for altering the positions of the baille Wall structures and the` space closing Ameans to adapt them for cooperation WithV travelling sheets of diierent sizes and including handle rods attached to. the baille wall, structures and extending through and slide guided on oven Wall structures. t i

12V. In an oven structure of the character ,described wherein are provided meansy including chalnber flanking Walls defining a longitudinal chamber, means for conveying sheets through the chamber and holding them disposed uprightly and transversely of the chamber in generally parallel spaced relation, means forrdirecting treating air across the path of` travel of the'sheets, baffle wall structures coextensive at least in depth with the depth of the uprightly travelling sheetsand supported uprightly in the chamber'in close proximity. beside edge portions of the travelling sheets and in parallel spaced relation4 to adjacent chamber flanking AWalls of said oven structure, means closingthe spaces intervening said baille wall structures and said adjacent walls to prevent free passage of airthrough said spaces, means operable' from without the oven structure for altering: the positions of the baffle Wall structures and the space closing means toadapt them for cooperation with travelling sheets of diierent sizes,` and means for limiting the; distance throughwhich the bafIie-wallrstructures can be moved towardthe conveying means so as to avoid interference with free movement oi the latter. JAMES I-I. ONEIL. 

